by guest blogger John R. Math
Best practices for developing your own effective artist website.
Today, an artist must have a well designed website in order to present their art work to prospects, gallery owners and other interested parties. At the minimum, an artist website should provide several things. This includes the artist’s art, an overview of their experience, and their contact information.
There is an overwhelming amount of artists who want to be represented by art galleries or who want to sell their art on their own. Thus, they must have a website that is easy to navigate and that will load quickly. If a visitor to their website requires too many “clicks” to a slow and difficult website, the artist risks losing that visitor.
An art website is the beginning of the selling process. But a poorly designed and ineffective website can stop a prospect from investigating that artist’s work further. A professional artist website should have the following 10 basics to compel a visitor to want to learn more:
Biography
An artist should have a summary of experience that will provide information to the reader at a quick glance. This includes an overview of the artist’s education, experience, awards and honors. In addition, detail any related art experience and finally any article/publishing experience that the artist has.
Artist Statement
The artist should have a statement explaining in a concise manner what their artwork means to them and their reasons for creating. Always, this information should be presented in plain English and in non-technical artistic terms to the reader.
Gallery or Portfolio
This area of the website is the most important section for the viewer. It shouldn’t be overloaded with too much artwork. Rather, the portfolio should have a good representation of work which demonstrates artistic skills. Images should load quickly. If the artist is selling on their own, prices should be listed.
Representation
The artist should detail any current galleries, individuals and firms who represent them. This section has a two-fold purpose. First, it tells the viewer where they can see the artist’s work in person. Secondly, it subliminally states that other professionals think that the art is worthy. It is a form of a third party endorsement of the artist’s work.
Contact Information
Believe it or not, I see artists who omit this information on their websites! At the very least, an artist should provide, street address, telephone number and email address. In addition, list a fax number or secondary means of contacting the artist. Search engines like addresses. If possible, have the contact and address information in several areas on the website. This will help with the artist’s page rank.
Lead Capture
Include a sign up form (or better yet, a popup that offers an incentive for email subscribers) that encourages site visitors to sign up. Let them know they will receive additional information, a newsletter, blog posts, notice of future shows etc. Make it easy for the viewer to do this. Otherwise, most people will not make the effort to contact you on their own.
Social Media
The artist should provide links to various social media sites by placing icons on their site. In addition to giving additional means of communication, social media allows the artist to develop and build their brand. At the very least, the artist should be promoting their art work on Facebook and Instagram.
Press Releases & News
Any news of interest should be posted and showcased for website visitors. This information may be about a gallery opening, sale of artwork or a donation of artwork to a local charity event. There are many free press release sites artists can use. These sites are looking for newsworthy information, not full-out promotional pieces.
Links of Interest
Links should be industry related. They can include galleries where the artist has shown their art in the past, suppliers, museums and art related websites. When linking to someone, it’s wise to contact and inform them that you are linking, The artist should always ask for a reciprocal link. Websites are ranked based on the amount and the quality of backlinks.
Blog/Newsletter
If the artist has a blog or newsletter that is industry related (and the artist should have this to help drive traffic to their website) this should be included with any reprints or at least links to these publications.
Summary
Overall, these are the most important sections that an artist should have for their art website. If their current site does not have the capacity for this information, they should find a website hosting firm to provide this. Speaking of web hosting, the artist should have a URL named after themselves. This makes it easy for prospects, art galleries and other parties to find the artist on the internet.
Another critical component is Google Analytics. This is a free service that comes with a free Google account. Google Analytics shows the artist exactly where their website traffic is coming from (search, links & direct traffic). It also tells you how many visitors are new vs. how many are returning. It tracks keywords being used to find the website, what page they were on when they entered the website, and how much time they spent on the site. This provides the website owner with an overall analysis of who their viewers are. Google explains in simple terms how a website owner can use this information to their advantage. All of this is free information that provided by Google.
Besides the quality of their art, an art website is one of the most important elements an artist can have when it comes to showcasing, promoting and presenting their art. The website should be designed well so that the viewer can evaluate the artist’s artwork and conversely. It should be designed for the artist to be able to evaluate who and why they are interested in the artist’s work.
I’m doing much of what you’ve suggested here although I sometimes wonder about the effectiveness of my site design. It’s fairly basic and home-made.
One thing I’m curious about is what systems others use to display artwork to their websites. My solution has been to use Flickr to host my paintings and then embed Flickr slideshows as a viewer on my site’s gallery page. I move paintings around from “Available” to “Sold” sets as needed, and they then automatically appear in the appropriate viewer.
What do others out there do?
Any advice or feedback appreciated.
Marie Nagel
http://www.marienagel.com
Good thoughts, I’m doing most of them. Except the Google Analytics–my host has its own statistical software, not sure why I would need to add another?
Marie, I looked at your site and like your work. However, it loads slowly because of the way you’re using Flickr. I just have my pictures embedded in my website–had to learn some HTML, but it wasn’t too bad. And using any kind of Flash can be hard for some viewers–for instance people on IPads or mobile devices.
BJ,
I’m using BlueHost and they have analytics, but I love using Google analytics. You can really look at your data from all angles (it can be a little addicting, however!)
I think the best advice is to use what works for you. If your current host gives you useful info, that should work fine.
This is very helpful. Thank you. Nuts & Bolts information to help artists market themselves is always appreciated.
Hi Marie,
I just took a look at your web site and think you have some great art. I didn’t find that the images took a long time to load but I found the dark green background color overwhelmed the artwork and your lovely colors. Also everything I have read about web site design says that you should never have white text on a dark background.
Hi John.
I agree 100% with you about having a new website, my site is about 6-7 years old. I realize though speaking to Renee Phillips of Manhattan Arts International, the New artists Success Program, the reading of your articles, with my own desire to have a better product in marketing that I must have a website that will serve me and my clients better.
So, thank you for your sound advice in your articles, these articles just reaffirm the information I’ve been receiving from Renee Phillips. My decisions to up-grade my whole marketing plan has been exciting, as well as quite exhausting, especially for someone who is not that savvy on computers.
Thanks
Clyde D. Finlay
Susanne, Thanks for your feedback.
I like your site design – very nice and clean. What an impressive range of works and media you have!
I went with dark green background because I felt the colours of my paintings pop nicely on darker walls. I’m not concerned about the colour, although I would like to get better text appearance, perhaps improved font and formatting.
BJ, thanks for pointing out the needs of phone/iPad users. I hadn’t thought of that. Maybe I’ll at least add a “mobile” link that will feed users to my sets on Flickr’s mobile viewer. I do notice the Flickr app for iPhone/iPod is a nice interface, but of course there are other phones.
I was more wondering whether there was consensus out there on the ultimate method to host & manage painting images without the artist being reliant on external webmasters. Flickr so far seems to serve my needs – I like it because the instant I upload a painting and designate it to a set, it’s visible on my site and automatically piped to my Facebook page. But there seem to be a range of different solutions in use by other artists.
Marie Nagel
I use http://www.bigblackbag.com and really like it. It has many features, you can change the design of your site at any time(to keep it fresh), upload and change images whenever you want. The are very helpful on the phone if you need help. It does take time to enter all of the data
Hello everyone, love your work!
I’ve recently decided to redo my website and find new hosting. The choices are overwhelming. Currently I’m on Artspan. It’s OK but I think Ican do better for less money. Less money is a bonus not a decisive factor.
Last year I spent about $6000 on supplies, classes and framing, very little was budgeted towards marketing.
Going into 2011 that will change.
Anyway, after many hours of research I plan to purchase a template I found while searching “wordpress templates for artists”. It’s actually for photographers, but will work fine for me as well. I know there are tons of free templates, but when I saw this one in action I said “WOW!” and it’s only about $70 a small price to make me say “WOW!”
I plan to use Bluehost as it was recommended for compatibility with WordPress files. I also intend to start making it a practice to both paint everyday and blog everyday. So there’s my two cents on the subject.
I’m fairly convinced that for many artists the weak link in their career is marketing, so for myself I will from now on consider it as important as production.
Wish me Luck! And Happy painting to everyone![img]http://www.andymorrisart.com/show-image/867370/Andy-Morris/Passion.jpg[/img]
Andy, This blog itself is written using WordPress with hosting by BlueHost. It’s really affordable and I’ve been pleased. WordPress isn’t perfect, but I believe it’s just about the best on the market, and it’s free!
I have used, at different times most of the platforms that everyone mentioned and over the last 2 years I have built 4 websites with WordPress – Thesis Theme. It was tricky at first (I am no techy, by any means) but it was well worth the learning curve! Just the SEO capabilities that you are able to take advantage of is incredible and worth it. I too use Bluehost and besides their price, there service is excellent and the compatibility with WordPress.org is great! Any additional costs are well worth it in terms of additional traffic to your site. Here is one more article about website design that I wrote awhile back http://www.artmarketingstrategy.com/losing-sales-with-a-poorly-designed-art-website.html Thanks for your comments. John Math
I found your article valuable and I’m going to tweak my website based on your input.
Questions:
1. How important are dates in a bio?
2. Is publishing an address, my studio is in my home, essential?
3. What about a page of registries and links that are art related?
thank you.
Karen
I’m pleased to hear my decision on both WordPress and Bluehost to be confirmed not once but twice.
I feel even more confident now that I’ve made a great choice. I cannot begin to describe how excited I am about the future, it seems all my dreams are true. I found a wonderful, truely awesome women, that is fantasicly creative, a dear old friend contacted me on facebook, my art is taking a new more powerful direction, the Universe is working overtime to bless me with all I need and more. Can’t wait to start blogging.
That’s great, Andy – sounds like the stars have aligned. Best of luck with the new website!
Thank you very much for this info. Its good to know Ive done most of these things. Ive had my website a year or so. I love the blog area Its fantastic as a portfolio, but I havent any sales yet, so I don’t know where I’m going wrong.
I twitter facebook etc as well.
Hi Jenny, thanks for reading. Artists websites are incredibly important, and John and I will be doing an interview soon on how they can be improved even more.
Having an online presence is only part of a strategy – getting into exhibitions, doing retail shows, personal interaction are all part of balancing the marketing and promotion of your career.
Thank you for sharing all this info.
I find the business side of being an artist very interesting and can be just as creative as making the work.
Ive spent many years trying different things and look forward to learning some new strategies in this area to try.
Hi Jenny
I am a fellow artists and I just want to say be patient and sales will come. I have a web site and facebook, but most of my sales come from open studios ans exhibitions. I don’t do twitter or a blog. There is only so much time and I want to spend most of it in my studio.
Good luck check out my site and facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/gay.tracy1
Thanks for the encouragement gay tracy.